Combination sign and wind vane



Dec. 27, 1960 J. T. SIMMONS COMBINATION SIGNAND WIND VANE Filed Sept. 26, 1958 IN VENTOR.

5 J N y 0 E r M a m W Jmfi/ WM United States Patent COMBINATION SIGN AND WIND VANE James T. Simmons, P.0. Box 333, Orlando, Fla.

Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,654

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-39) This invention relates to signs, and more particularly to a sign with which is combined a wind-operated vane structure which serves as an ornamental attachment to the sign as well as a wind direction indicator.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved ornamental sign structure which involves relatively simple components, which is easy to install, and which provides a means for supporting the sign in a clear, conspicuous and attractive manner, as well as providing an indication of wind direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ornamental sign assembly which involves inexpensive components, which is sturdy in construction, and which is attractive in appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of an ornamental sign assembly constructed in accordance .with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sign assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the sign assembly of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved ornamental sign assembly according to the present invention. The sign assembly 11 comprises a vertical supporting post 12 which is rigidly anchored at its bottom end in any suitable supporting base, for example, in a block of concrete 13 embedded in the ground 14. The support 12 comprises a rod of generally circular cross section formed at its top end with a conical tip 15. Secured to the upper portion of the support rod 12 is a sign board 16 which is of any desirable shape, for example, which is rectangular in shape as illustrated in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein. The sign board 16 is secured to the vertical rod member 12 by suitable clamping straps 17 and 18 secured to the intermediate portions of the top and bottom margins of the sign board and clampingly receiving the vertical support rod 12. A supporting collar 19 may be provided on the support rod to supportingly engage the bottom edge of the sign board 16.

Designated at 20 is a first channel-shaped cross bar which is pivoted at its intermediate portion on the conical tip 15, said intermediate portion having secured thereto a block 21 formed with a conical recess receiving the tip 15, as is clearly shown in Figure 6. The block 21 is fastened inside the channel-shaped cross bar 20 in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, whereby the cross bar 20 is supported with its open side disposed downwardly. Designated at 22 is a second channel-shaped cross bar 2 which is arranged in a horizontal position having its open side located at its bottom, the cross bar 22 being formed with a central aperture rotatably receiving the support rod 12 and being further provided with a bearing collar 23 receiving and likewise rotatably engaging the support 12.

Designated at 24 is a frame bar which is secured at its ends to the respective ends of the lower cross bar 22 and which extends upwardly, being secured at opposite upper portions thereof to the respective ends of the upper cross bar 20, as shown at 25 and 26. The frame bar 24 is thus formed with an upper loop portion 27 which tapers upwardly and has pivoted to its top end a horizontal pointer bar 28, the pointer bar being secured at its intermediate portion to the top portion of loop 27 by a vertical bolt 29 which extends through a central sleeve 30 provided on the horizontal pointer bar 28 and which is provided at its top end with a retaining nut 31. A spacer washer 32 is provided between the bottom end of the sleeve 30 and the relatively fiat top portion of the loop 27, whereby the pointer bar 28 will be rigidly clamped to the loop 27 when the nut 31 is tightened on the bolt 29, as will be readily apparent from Figure 5.

The side arms of the frame bar 24 are formed at opposite edges thereof with respective vanes or flanges 33 and 34, as shown in Figure 4. The vanes 33 and 34 act as air foils and cause the frame bar 24 to rotate under wind forces. As will be readily apparent from Figure 5. nut 31 may be loosened sutficiently so that the horizontal pointer bar 28 may be free to rotate independently ot the frame bar 24. Thus, the pointer bar 28 is pro vided at its front and rear end with the respective vertical wind vane elements 36 and 37, so that the pointer bar 28 may be employed as a wind vane which will align itself in the direction of the prevailing wind, whereas the frame bar 24 may rotate continuously by the action of the wind against the air foil elements 33 and 34. By this means, the frame bar 24 provides an attractive and ornamental eifect so that the sign 16 is displayed in a pleasing and attractive manner while the pointer bar 28 serves as a wind direction indicator, being aligned in the direction of the prevailing wind.

As will be readily apparent, the assembly above described may be employed to support a house number sign or any other sign which it is desired to display in a conspiouous and attractive manner.

While a specific embodiment of an improved sign assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In combination, a vertical support, a stationary sign mounted on said support, a first cross bar rotatably supported at its intermediate portion on the top end of said support and being above said sign, a second cross bar having bearing means at its intermediate portion rotatably receiving said support below said sign, means connecting the ends of said cross bars and including opposite bar elements extending between said ends of the cross bars, and vertically elongated wind vane elements secured to and extending along the opposite side edge portions of said bar elements between the cross bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

